Safety-switch for the spark-plugs of automobile-engines.



, w. COOPER.'

SAFETY swncH Foa THE SPARK PLUGS or AUTOMOBILE ENGINES. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4. ISIS. v

1,250,975. I Patend'bc. 25,1917'. Y

I l l UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.-

WILLIAM COOPER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SAFETY-SWITCH FOR THE SPARK-PLUGS OF AUTOMOBILE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Appucaaon mea November 14, 191e. serialNo. 131,252.-

T o all whomz't may concern.'

Be it known that 1,W1LL1AM CooPER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented amew and useful Safety-Switch for the Spark-Plugs of Automobile-Engines, of which the following is a Specification.

My invention relates to a new safety switch for the spark plugs of automobile engines, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a safety switch that can be applied to the spark plugs of the engines to make or break their circuits to their current supplying apparatus. And

Second, to f provide a safety switch that can be operated from the-dash board of the car by its driver to connect the spark plugs in circuit with the current supplying apparatus, and can be moved to short circuit and ground the current flowing to the spark gap of the spark plugs, and then be locked in its current shunted or short circuited positions during the absence of the driver Qfrom through the switch bar, the said bar being in the position in which its contacts engage the terminal contacts of the spark plugs, thereby to switch or ground the current of the spark Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the casing of the switch bar, showing one of the members of the twin non- 'conducting contact supporting elements broken away to show the recesseswhich receive the spark plug terminals, the lsaid terminals being shown in engagement' with,

the switch bar contacts. v i

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view through the rear end ortion of the switch bar, showing the terminal ends ofthe conductor wires which are electrically connected with the. switch contacts, secured to a pin which extends through the casing of the switch bar.

Fig. 6 is a side View of the switch bar handle and showing the manner of its connection with the switch bar.

Fig. 7 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the switch bar, and a portion of a spark plug, on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view `of one of the spark plug conductor plates, to which the wires leading from the spark coil plugs are aty tached.

Fig. 9 1s a transverse, sectional View of a modified form of the switch bar.

Fig. l0 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2. And

Fig. l1 is perspective view of a' modified form of spark plug terminal.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,.-

The numeral l deslgnates the cylinders of an automobile engine, a four cylinder engine being preferably illustrated, and 2 desig-` nates their spark plugs, which are arranged in alinement with each other along the length of the engine. These spark plugs may be of any make or kind, but they should be of about the same height, although a little difference in their heights will not interfere with the successful working of my safety switch. y3 designates the dash board that separates they drivcrs `seat from the engine.

v My new safety switch consists of a tubular bar 4, which I will term a switch bar when its parts are assembled together in operative n condition, although it is composed of a number of different parts. provided with as many socket apertures 5 as there are spark plugs on'the engine. Thus the switch bar for the four spark plugs of a four cylinder engine would have four socket apertures, and for the siX spark plugs of a six cylinder engine six sockets, and would contain eight and twelve sockets. for the eight and twelve spark plugs for eightand twelve` "cylinder engines, respectively.

The socket apertures 5 of each bar are ar ranged at such distances apart and are of a size to fit loosely down over the top ends of all of the spark plugs of the engine at one time, without engaging the conductive parts of the spark plugs.

In adapting the spark plugs Vof an engine to receive my safety Witt-2h, it is necessary This switch bar is to first remove the top of the binding screw of each spark plug, and screw on it in its place a contact terminal plug head 6, which 1s a coperating part of my invention. Each terminal plug head is made of conductive material, and it is made of a size to tit loosely' into the socket apertures 5 of the switch bar. Each of these terminal plug heads comprises a shank or neck portion 7, the end of which is provided with a threaded aperture 8, that is adapted to screw onto the top threaded end 9 of a spark plug, and it is arranged andy adapted to contact with the current circuit of the spark plug. This plug head is also provided with a cross bar' terminal contact portion 10, at its upper end, one end of which is tapered from its opposite sides to an edge to enable it to be wedged between and in contact with oppositely arranged terminal spring blades 11, that are secured within the switch bar to receive the terminal plug head of the spark plug, as will be presently described.

The main switch bar consists of three main parts. The outer member I term the casing el. of the switch bar, and the inner members I term the cut-outs. The outer casing is reciprocally mounted in guideway bearings 12, that are secured to the top or cylinder head of the engine. The inner cutouts are made in two ,strips ofthe same size and length, and they are made of non-conductive material. These two cut-out strips are held in bearing cont-act. against each other by the tubular casing l, which tits over them. They are however additionally secured together at their opposite ends by their circuit wires 13, which are twisted to gether at the ends of the strips to draw and hold them in contact with each other, while the casing is pushed over them from one of their ends. These cut-*out bars are composed of two narrow strips, which are made preferably of porcelain, but which may be made of any other non-conductive material, or if desired may be made of two different materials, but they should be made of non-conductive material where the plug heads and switch sockets are located.

Each of these cut-out strips is a little longer than the length of the combined distances apart of all of the spark plugs onl the engine, and each strip is provided with the same number of longitudinal T-shaped recesses 14, in the lower edge of its inner side, as there are spark plugs on the engine to which these strips are to be applied.

The recesses 14 extend through the bottom edge of each cut-out strip, so that when these strips are placed together, apertures are formed that fit loosely down over the plug head terminal .6 of the spark plugs. The recesses 14 are positioned in the length of these strips so that they will register directly opposite to and fit loosely down over the plug head contact terminals of the spark plugs.

The socket apertures that form the entrance apertures of the entire switch bar extend down below the cross head top part of the plug heads when the switch bar is placed on them, which allows them to enter fully into the recesses l-l, vand these recesses 14 are enough longer and larger than the contact terminal cross head part of the plug head to allow the switch bar to be moved reciprocally on them easily b v the driver of the car a distance ot about three times their length. The longer recess apertures in the cut-outs deine the length of this movement, as their rear ends engage the rear ends of the plug heads as the switch bar is moved against them. In one and the same end of each of the recesses 1J; ot' each cutout strip, a conductive contact terminal 11 is placed. These terminals aresecured by a screw 15 directly opposite to each other. Each screw 15 extends through the cut-out strips from their outside surfaces into each recess', and is threaded into the end of the contact terminal switch. These conductive contact terminals are preferably made in the 'form of strips of spring brass or other suitable spring metal. and each is secured at its inner end to the inner end of the recess and with its tree end long enough tov form a springing or resiliently yielding contact terminal, and these terminals extend longitudi nally along the recess 1l to close to the adjacent edge of the recess 5. The free end of each terminal'contact strip'is bent down for a short distance from its end in such a manner as to throw the free end portion of the strip up away from the bottom of the 4recess and forman upward inclined por- The spring contant terminals 11 of each cut-out strip are connected together by a circ-uit wire 13, which is extended along the outside side surface of each strip in a groove that is formed therein to receive it, and this circuit wire extends under the head of each Screw and in contact with each screw and each wire is clamped tight by the head of the screws in its groove. Consequently each of these non-conductive cut-out strips carries a circuit wire, and when the two are held together in the casing their circuit wires, which extend to their ends, are twist` ed together at the opposite ends of thel cutout strips, thus forming a continuous circuit from one wire to the other, and consequently 'from each pair of terminal contact springs" two cut-out strips are connected togetherwith their recesses facing each other by screws 16, which extend through themqand are arranged to clamp them together, with their recesses and switch springs registering opposite to each other. They are then inserted in the tubular casing with their recesses 5A registering with the apertures 5 in the bottom of the casing. The casing is then secured to them by a screw 17 that extends through the casing and the.v cut-outs. The circuit wires 13 arepreferablfbare copper wires and their ends after being arranged to bear against the casing or against the cap 19 at oneend of the switch bar, may be secured to or placed in bearing Contact against a plug 18 that is secured in the dash board end of the switch bar. I preferably however connect them directly to the casing at the outer ends of the cut-out strips after they are twisted together by twisting their ends aro-und a pin 20 that is extended through the end of the casing 4 before the cap 19 is secured on its end. The cap 19 is secured to the end of the pipe by a screw v21.

The plug 1S extends loosely into the end ofl the casing nearest to the dash board, andA this plug is provided with `a central slot in which is inserted loosely and is detachably secured one end of a handle 22. The handle 22 is detachably secured to the plug by any suitable means, as it is necessary to remove it when removing 'the switch bar from the spark plugs when removing one or more of them from the engine.

I preferably however secure the plug and handle to the casing by screw driver screws 23 which are extended through the casing from one side and pass loosely through the plug and handle, and are threaded into the opposite 'side of the casing.

This detachable handle extends loosely through a boss 24 that is secured to the dash board. This boss has a hub that projects from the inside of the dash board, and the handle is arranged to be locked to either the boss or its hub or to the dash board in any suitable manner ory by any suitable lock or locking mechanism, when the switch bar is pushed into circuit contact with the cross bar heads 6 of the spark plugs.

I preferably however lock the switch bar in this closed circuit position with the heads of the spark plugs in the following manner:

A inofer` ring 25 is formed in the end .of

the han le to enable the driver to gaasp it and pull and push it, and two apertures 26 and 27 are formed through it. An aperture 28 is also formed through the hub of the boss. One of the two apertures 26 and 27 in the handle is positioned to be in alinement with the aperture through the boss, when the switch bar is pushed forward contact terminals 11 are wedged against the opposite sides of the taperends of the cross vthrough the dash boards boss until its spring circuit with the cross bars of the 'spark plugs. f

The plug heads of thev spark plugs are connected by circuit wires 31 to the plugs 32 of the dash board by any suitable means, such as twisting them around the necks, of the plug heads,`but I preferably remove Jthe plug heads and place an apertured conductive plate 33 over the small end of each spark plug and clamp the plate there by the plug head. i

The outer ends of these plates are provided with apertures 34, through which the ends of these circuit wires are placed and are twisted to secure them to the plates. After the circuit wires are connected to the spark plugs the switch bar is mounted on their plug heads; in order to do this, however, the handle has to be removed from the plug 6 of the switch bar, pushed through the dash board, and connected to the switch bar, after the switch bar is mounted on the heads of the plugs.

The electric circuit wires are then connected to the plates of the spark plugs, and the circuit is complete from the source of current supply, to which the plugs 32 are connected, to the spark plugs and to the spark gap of the spark plugs, when the cross bars are not in contact with the spring switches of the switch bar.

T he spring switch circuits in the switchA i moved by the driver of the car to cause the switchsprings to engage the cross bars of the spark plugs in its sockets, which contact causes the currentto shunt or short circuit from the plates 33 of the spark plugs through their vcross bars and the switch springs into the circuit wires 13, and from them to fiow through the casing and guides to the engine, in which it grounds or passes to the magneto or generator.

T he operation is as follows:

Assuming that the driver of a car to which my safety switch has been applied, short circuited it tothe cross bars of the spark plugs and locked it to the boss of the dash board when he stopped theengine'and left his car. Then the first thing he does on entering the car is to unlock the padlock, remove it from the boss, and then draw the switch-bar toward him as far as it will go, which movement disengages the terminal spring switches from the cross bars of the spark plugs, thus breaking the short circuit and leaving the spark plugs entirely free and separated at a space apart from the spring contact terminals, so that the electric current when turned on flows from the plugs 32 through the circuit wire to the spark plugs and it will flow through the spark plugs as soon as it is turned on and will operate the engine, which the driver can run as he desires and stop and start it when he desires without touching the switch bar until heA is ready to leave the vcar and when he desires'4 to. leave and lock it, so that no one can turn the curshould the current be turned on by any oner it is shunted or short circuited from the cross. bars through these spring contacts,

and their circuit wires, and Hows through the car. Consequently by means of my safety A casing and guides and grounds in the engine through vwhich it flows to the magneto or other circuit "generating apparatus of the switchit is impossible for any one to start the engine and steal the car by turning on they sparking current, as the current would be immediately short circuited away from the tops of the spark plugs and could not flow to their gap sparking and explosive mixture ignitingends.

Another important feature of my invention is that when the handle is locked to the boss of the dash, the switch bar can not be removed from the plug heads of the spark plugs even if the handle is disconnected from it by removing the screws from it, and the inner end of the handle. The handle must -be unlocked first from lthe boss of the dash before the switch bar can Vbe removed to cause its recesses 5 to register with the plug heads, so that' the switch bar can be lifted from them.

f ere an engine has cups at the side of the spark plugs, the plug terminals are made with an offset in their necks, as shown in Fig. 1l, so that the switch barlwill stand to one side of the cups.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive and reliable safety switch for automobile engines, that renders it impossible for any one to start the engine without unlocking and moving the switch to allow the current when turned on to iow to the spark gap of the plugs.

.i While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction and arrangement of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to it, as many changes might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having Idescribed my. invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l.. In a safety switch for the operatively connected spark plugs Aof automobile engines having the combination with the engine and dash board, ofthe spark lplu s havinga conductive terminal contact in;t cir circuits, at..

their top ends, a switch bar provided with recesses arranged to fit down over said plugs terminal contacts and move reciprocally thereon, contact terminals inone end of said recesses adapted to engage said plugs terminal contacts when said switch'bar is moved in one direction of its reciprocal inovement, a non-conductive space for said plugs terminal contact in each recess when said switch bar is moved in the oppsite direction of its reciprocal movement, means for reciprocally supporting said switch bar, means including circuit wires for grounding the'contact terminals in said recesses, a handle portion on said switch bar extending slidably through said dash, and means for locking said switch bar to said dash in circuit contacting relation with and out ofv circuit contact with said plugs terminal circuit contacts.

2. In a safety switch for the spark plugs of automobiles, the combination of the en` movement,A a tubular, casing surrounding said switch bar having apertures leading into its plug head receiving recesses, circuit wires from said spring contact grounded in said casing, supporting guides on said engines for said switch bar, a boss onthe inside of said dash, a handle detachably con-A nected to said switch' barA and extending through the boss of said dash, an aperture through said boss, apertures' through said handle arranged to register with the aperture in said boss when said switch barl is \moved into circuit contact with said plugs terminal cross bars and when it is out of circuit with the same, and means including a padlock for locking said switch bar` locking said switch-bar to said dash in short,

circuited contact with said plugs terminals and out of circuit contact with said plugs terminals.

1l. In a safety switchfor the electrically connected spark plugs of automobile engines, the combination with the dash and the engines, of the spark plugs provided with a conductive cross-bar form of terminal contactsand the short circuiting switch bar reciprocally mounted on said plug terminals and connected to said dash, said switch bar comprisingthe pair of cut-out strips, provided with the registering T-shaped. plug terminal receiving recesses, the'tubular casing surrounding said cut-out strips and provided with apertures registering with the recesses of said cut-out strips, the spring blade contact` terminals secured on opposite sides of one and the same ends of said recesses, the circuit wires on said cut-out strips connected to said switches and grounded 'to said casing` the guides for reciprocally supporting said switch bar on said engine and plug terminals, a handle on said switch bar extending through said dash, and means including a padlock for locln'ng said switchbar to said dash in short circuited contact with said plugs terminals and out of circuit contact with said plugs terminals.

5. In a safety switch for the electrically connected spark plugs of automobile engines, the combination with the dash and the engines, of the spark plugs provided with a conductive cross-bar form of terminal contacts and the short circuiting switch bar reciprocally mounted on said plug terminals and connected to said dash, said switch bar comprising the pair of cut-out strips, provided with the registering T-shaped plug terminal receiving recesses, the tubularcasin surrounding saidA cut-out strips and provi ed with aperturesregistering with the vrecesses of said cut-out strips, the spring blade contact terminals secured on opposite sides of one and the same ends of said recesses, the circuit' wires on said cut-out strips extending through said dash, and means for securing said cut-out strips together and for securing said casing to saidi cut-out strips and for detachably securing said handle to said switch bar.

6. In a safety switch for the spark plug fif automobile engines, the combination with the engine and dash'and the spark plugs of automobiles, said spark plugs being provided with the cross-bar terminal conductive contact heads, of the spark plugs of the switch bar comprising the casing, the cut-outs and their plug head surrounding recesses, the spring blade contact terminals and their circuit wires, the handle extendys o ing through the dash, and means for reciprocating and locking said switch bar to said dash in operative short circuiting engagement with said terminalconductive Contact plug heads and out of circuit with them.

7. In a safety switch for the spark plug of automobile engines, the combination with the engine and dash and the spark plugs of automobiles, said spark plugs being provided with the cross-bar terminal conductive contact heads, of the spark plugs of the switch bar comprising the casing, the cut-outs and their plug head surrounding recesses, the spring blade contact terminals and their circuit wires, the handle extending through the dash, and means for reciprocating and locking said switch bar to said dash in operative short circuiting engagement with said terminal conductive contact plug heads and out of circuit with them, and means yfor reciprocally supporting said switch bar, and means including a conductive connection be-I tween'said spring contacts of said cut-outs arranged to ground said short circuited current from the terminal heads of said Spark plugs to said engine. Y

8. The combination with the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine, an electric current source, and wires connecting said plugs and current source, of slidable means connected with andv housing the terminal ends of said spark plugs for diverting the current to said plugs, when in one posltion, and permitting the How of the current to said plugs when in another position.

9. The combination with the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine, an electric -current source, land wires connecting said plugs and said current source, of a recessed bar slidably mounted on s aid plugs having contacts which engage said plugs 1n one position of the bar, and which'are out of engagement with said plugs when the bar is shifted, and conducting elements `connected with said contacts for diverting the current to said plugs when said plugs are engaged by said contacts, said recesses bein arliapted to house the terminal ends of sai p ugs.

, 10. The combination with the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine, an electric current source, and wires connecting said plugs and said sourcc,of terminalblocks mounted on the center poles of said plugs, a recessed bar slidably nlounted on said blocks having contacts which engage said blocks in one position of the bar und which are out of contact with Said blocks when the bar is shifted, and conducting elements connected with said contacts for diverting the current to said plugs when said blocks are engaged by said contacts, Said recesses being arranged to house said blocks.

11. The combination with the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine, lan electric current source and wires connecting said plugs and said current source, of terminal blocks connected to the poles of said spark plugs, a bar slidably mounted on said terminal blocks comprising an outer metal casing, and a non-conducting core, contacts in said core for engaging said blocks in one position of the bar, and which are out of contact with the blocks when the bar is shifted, conducting elements connecting said contacts with the metal casing, and metal slideways on said engine in which said casing is mounted, whereb when the said contacts engage said bloclis the current flowing to said plugs is diverted, and means for locking said bar in either position.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses'.

l WILLIAM COOPER.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ADELLA M. FowLE. 

